Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough

Jeffrey Abt is Professor Emeritus at Wayne State University. Prior to that he worked at the Wichita Art Museum; the Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago; and Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art. An artist and writer, his artwork is in several museum and corporate collections. His books include American Egyptologist: The Life of James Henry Breasted and the Creation of His Oriental Institute and Valuing Detroit's Art Museum: A History of Fiscal Abandonment and Rescue. He co-edited and is on the editorial board of the Museum History Journal.

Prologue





Museum Culture

The Contours of Secularization

Secularizing Sacred Objects

Ritual Objects and Art



Chapter 1. Entering the Contact Zone





From Ritual Objects to Cultural Artifacts

Expositions, Subalterns, and the Public Sphere

Placing Judaism on Display



Chapter 2. Seeding a Seminary Museum





“Jewish Ecclesiastical Art”

Judaica for a National Museum

The Museum of Jewish Ceremonial and Historical Objects

Finding an Audience



Chapter 3. A New Venue, a New Purpose





Reimagining the Museum: Interfaith Dialogue

Reimagining the Museum: Cultural History

Reimagining the Museum: Modern Jewish Art

Art’s Usefulness for Jews

Abstraction, Renunciation, Faith



Chapter 4. Creating a Way and Space for Contemporary Art





The Premise of Universality

Reshaping the Museum

The Art World’s 92nd Street Y, New School, and Commentary

Inaugurating the List Addition



Chapter 5. The Avant-Garde or Judaica?





The Nature of a Real Explosion

Pursuing a Greater Balance

The Museum, the Seminary, and Conservative Judaism

Ethnography, History, or Art



Chapter 6. Secular Paths Through the Avant-Garde, the Lower East Side, and Ancient Israe







Reaffirming the Avant-Garde

Heritage Rather Than Religion

The Lower East Side and Masada

Victim of Confusion | An Institution Adrift



Chapter 7. The Jewish Jewish Museum





The Soul Museum

Pushing Boundaries: Ethical, Social, Financial

Denouement

Cultural History, Ethnicity, and Jewish Experience



Epilogue



Acknowledgments

Endnotes

Bibliography

Index